Photovoltaic connector assembly

Abstract

A photovoltaic connector assembly includes a housing that has a mating end and a cable end. The housing has a securing feature that is configured to secure the housing to another photovoltaic connector assembly. The housing has a cavity that extends between the mating end and the cable end. A terminal is received in the cavity. The terminal is configured to be mated to a corresponding terminal of the other photovoltaic connector assembly. The terminal is configured to be terminated to a cable. A cable locator is configured to be coupled to the cable rearward of the terminal. The cable locator has wings that extend from opposite sides of the cable locator. The cable locator is received in the cavity. The wings engage the housing to position the cable locator within the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A photovoltaic connector assembly comprising:
 a housing having a mating end and a cable end, the housing having a securing feature configured to secure the housing to another photovoltaic connector assembly, the housing having a cavity extending between the mating end and the cable end; 
 a terminal received in the cavity, the terminal being configured to be mated to a corresponding terminal of the other photovoltaic connector assembly, the terminal being configured to be terminated to a cable; 
 a cable locator configured to be coupled to the cable rearward of the terminal, the cable locator having wings extending from opposite sides of the cable locator, the cable locator being received in the cavity, the wings engaging the housing to position the cable locator within the cavity; and 
 a cap coupled to the cable end of the housing, the cap engaging the wings to capture the cable locator between the cap and a portion of the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cap includes latching features being received inside the cavity and being secured to the housing to secure the cap to a portion of the housing. 
     
     
       3. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the wings extend from the opposite sides of the cable locator such that the cable locator is wider from side-to-side and shorter from top-to-bottom. 
     
     
       4. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cable locator includes a central bore extending along a bore axis, the cable locator receiving the cable in the central bore, the wings extending radially outward from the cable locator generally perpendicular to the bore axis. 
     
     
       5. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cable locator is configured to be crimped to the cable to secure the axial position of the cable locator with respect to the cable and the terminal. 
     
     
       6. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal having an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, the inner sealing surface being configured to engage and provide a seal along the cable, the outer sealing surface engaging and providing a seal along walls of the housing defining the cavity. 
     
     
       7. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal having an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, the inner sealing surface being configured to engage and provide a seal along the cable, the outer sealing surface engaging and providing a seal along walls of the housing defining the cavity, the seal having a front extension extending forward along the cable, the terminal being crimped around the extension and a jacket of the cable to secure the position of the seal with respect to the terminal. 
     
     
       8. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal is one of a blade terminal or a blade receptacle terminal having a generally wide and short configuration. 
     
     
       9. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an opening at the cable end, the housing having latching features proximate to the cable end, the cap being received in the opening of the housing, the cap having latching features engaging the latching features of the housing to secure the cap to the housing, the cap engaging the cable locator within the housing to hold the cable locator in the cavity. 
     
     
       10. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a generally wide and short configuration defining a low profile housing configured to be received in an overhang space between two solar shingles. 
     
     
       11. A photovoltaic connector assembly comprising:
 a housing having a mating end and a cable end, the housing having a securing feature configured to secure the housing to another photovoltaic connector assembly, the housing having a cavity extending between the mating end and the cable end; 
 a terminal received in the cavity, the terminal being configured to be mated to a corresponding terminal of the other photovoltaic connector assembly, the terminal being configured to be terminated to a cable, the terminal being one of a blade terminal or a blade receptacle terminal having a generally wide and short configuration; and 
 a cable locator configured to be coupled to the cable rearward of the terminal, the cable locator having wings extending from opposite sides of the cable locator, the cable locator being received in the cavity, the wings engaging the housing to position the cable locator within the cavity; and 
 a cap coupled to the cable end of the housing, the cap engaging the wings to capture the cable locator between the cap and a portion of the housing. 
 
     
     
       12. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cap includes latching features being received inside the cavity and being secured to the housing to secure the cap to a portion of the housing. 
     
     
       13. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the wings extend from the opposite sides of the cable locator such that the cable locator is wider from side-to-side and shorter from top-to-bottom. 
     
     
       14. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the cable locator includes a central bore extending along a bore axis, the cable locator receiving the cable in the central bore, the wings extending radially outward from the cable locator generally perpendicular to the bore axis. 
     
     
       15. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a seal having an inner sealing surface and an outer sealing surface, the inner sealing surface being configured to engage and provide a seal along the cable, the outer sealing surface engaging and providing a seal along walls of the housing defining the cavity, the seal having a front extension extending forward along the cable, the terminal being crimped around the extension and a jacket of the cable to secure the position of the seal with respect to the terminal. 
     
     
       16. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the housing has an opening at the cable end, the housing having latching features proximate to the cable end, the photovoltaic connector assembly further comprising a cap having a cable bore configured to receive the cable, the cap being received in the opening of the housing, the cap having latching features engaging the latching features of the housing to secure the cap to the housing, the cap engaging the cable locator within the housing to hold the cable locator in the cavity. 
     
     
       17. The photovoltaic connector assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the housing has a generally wide and short configuration defining a low profile housing configured to be received in an overhang space between two solar shingles. 
     
     
       18. A photovoltaic system comprising:
 a first solar shingle and a second solar shingle configured to be mounted to a substrate, the second solar shingle overlapping a top portion of the first solar shingle such that an overhang space is created immediately above a top edge of the first solar shingle, the overhang space being defined between a base of the second solar shingle, the top edge of the first solar shingle and the substrate; and 
 a low profile photovoltaic connector assembly received in the overhang space, the photovoltaic connector assembly being cable mounted to a cable, the cable being routed through the overhang space, the low profile photovoltaic connector assembly comprising: 
 a housing having a mating end and a cable end, the housing having a securing feature configured to secure the housing to another photovoltaic connector assembly, the housing having a cavity extending between the mating end and the cable end; 
 a terminal received in the cavity, the terminal being configured to be mated to a corresponding terminal of the other photovoltaic connector assembly, the terminal being configured to be terminated to a cable; 
 a cable locator configured to be coupled to the cable rearward of the terminal, the cable locator having wings extending from opposite sides of the cable locator, the cable locator being received in the cavity, the wings engaging the housing to position the cable locator within the cavity; and 
 a cap coupled to the cable end of the housing, the cap engaging the wings to capture the cable locator between the cap and a portion of the housing. 
 
     
     
       19. The photovoltaic system of  claim 18 , wherein the cap includes latching features being received inside the cavity and being secured to the housing to secure the cap to a portion of the housing. 
     
     
       20. The photovoltaic system of  claim 18 , wherein the wings extend from the opposite sides of the cable locator such that the cable locator is wider from side-to-side and shorter from top-to-bottom.